Wireless communication system and associated method for routing messages to wireless networks

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication system is provided that includes a base station and a routing map. The base station is in wireless communication with a plurality of wireless networks. The routing map stores information relating to a location of a mobile station in wireless communication with a first wireless network. The base station receives a signal for the mobile station and transmits the signal to only the first wireless network, according to information retrieved from the routing map related to the location of the mobile station. The wireless network may be a wireless local area network. A handover of the mobile station from the first wireless network to a second wireless network may be made based upon a measured signal characteristic between the mobile station and the first and second wireless networks.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/839,499 filed on Apr. 20, 2001 and entitled “APPARATUS, AND AN ASSOCIATED METHOD, FOR PROVIDING WLAN SERVICE IN A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM”. The present application may share common subject matter and figures with the above United States patent application, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein

This application claims priority to: provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,712 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 and entitled “WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING BLOCK FILTERING AND FAST EQUALIZATION DEMODULATION AND METHOD OF OPERATION”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,825 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 and entitled “APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR OPERATING UPON DATA SIGNALS RECEIVED AT A RECEIVING STATION OF A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,698 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SUBSCRIBER INTERFACE IN A FIXED WIRELESS SYSTEM”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,827 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CREATING SIGNAL AND PROFILES AT A RECEIVING STATION”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,826 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERFACE BETWEEN A SUBSCRIBER MODEM AND SUBSCRIBER PREMISES INTERFACES”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,951 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 entitled “BACKPLANE ARCHITECTURE FOR USE IN WIRELESS AND WIRELINE ACCESS SYSTEMS”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,824 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ON LINE INSERTION OF LINE REPLACEABLE UNITS IN WIRELESS AND WIRELINE ACCESS SYSTEMS”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/263,101 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 entitled “SYSTEM FOR COORDINATION OF TDD TRANSMISSION BURSTS WITHIN AND BETWEEN CELLS IN A WIRELESS ACCESS SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/263,097 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 and entitled “REDUNDANT TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING MEMORY EQUALIZATION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATION”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/273,579 filed Mar. 5, 2001 and entitled “WIRELESS ACCESS SYSTEM FOR ALLOCATING AND SYNCHRONIZING UPLINK AND DOWNLINK OF TDD FRAMES AND METHOD OF OPERATION”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,955 filed Jan. 19, 2001 and entitled “TDD FDD AIR INTERFACE”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,708 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 and entitled “APPARATUS, AND AN ASSOCIATED METHOD, FOR PROVIDING WLAN SERVICE IN A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM”; Ser. No. 60/273,689, filed Mar. 5, 2001, entitled “WIRELESS ACCESS SYSTEM USING MULTIPLE MODULATION FORMATS IN TDD FRAMES AND METHOD OF OPERATION”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/273,757 filed Mar. 5, 2001 and entitled “WIRELESS ACCESS SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHOD USING MULTIPLE MODULATION FORMATS IN TDD FRAMES ACCORDING TO SUBSCRIBER SERVICE TYPE”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/270,378 filed Feb. 21, 2001 and entitled “APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING A PRIORITY CALL IN A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM”; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/270,385 filed Feb. 21, 2001 and entitled “APPARATUS FOR REALLOCATING COMMUNICATION RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH A PRIORITY CALL IN A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM”; and provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/270,430 filed Feb. 21, 2001 and entitled “METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A PRIORITY CALL IN A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. The above Provisional U.S. Patent Applications are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

The present application may share common subject matter and figures with the following United States patent applications, which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein:

-   1) Copending Ser. No. 10/042,705, filed on Nov. 15, 2000, entitled     “SUBSCRIBER INTEGRATED ACCESS DEVICE FOR USE IN WIRELESS AND     WIRELINE ACCESS SYSTEMS”; -   2) Ser. No. 09/838,810, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled “WIRELESS     COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING BLOCK FILTERING AND FAST     EQUALIZATION-DEMODULATION AND METHOD OF OPERATION”, now U.S. Pat.     No. 7,075,967; -   3) Ser. No. 09/839,726, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled “APPARATUS AND     ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR OPERATING UPON DATA SIGNALS RECEIVED AT A     RECEIVING STATION OF A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM”,     now U.S. Pat. No. 7,099,383; -   4) Copending Ser. No. 09/839,729, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled     “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SUBSCRIBER INTERFACE IN A     FIXED WIRELESS SYSTEM”; -   5) Ser. No. 09/839,719, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled “APPARATUS AND     METHOD FOR CREATING SIGNAL AND PROFILES AT A RECEIVING STATION”, now     U.S. Pat. No. 6,947,477; -   6) Ser. No. 09/838,910, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled “SYSTEM AND     METHOD FOR INTERFACE BETWEEN A SUBSCRIBER MODEM AND SUBSCRIBER     PREMISES INTERFACES”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,051; -   7) Copending Ser. No. 09/839,509, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled     “BACKPLANE ARCHITECTURE FOR USE IN WIRELESS AND WIRELINE ACCESS     SYSTEMS”; -   8) Ser. No. 09/839,514, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled “SYSTEM AND     METHOD FOR ON-LINE INSERTION OF LINE REPLACEABLE UNITS IN WIRELESS     AND WIRELINE ACCESS SYSTEMS”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,069,047; -   9) Ser. No. 09/839,512, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled “SYSTEM FOR     COORDINATION OF TDD TRANSMISSION BURSTS WITHIN AND BETWEEN CELLS IN     A WIRELESS ACCESS SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION”, now U.S. Pat. No.     6,804,527; -   10) Ser. No. 09/839,259, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled “REDUNDANT     TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING MEMORY EQUALIZATION APPARATUS AND     METHOD OF OPERATION”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,065,098; -   11) Ser. No. 09/839,457, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled “WIRELESS     ACCESS SYSTEM FOR ALLOCATING AND SYNCHRONIZING UPLINK AND DOWNLINK     OF TDD FRAMES AND METHOD OF OPERATION”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,002,929; -   12) Ser. No. 09/839,075, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled “TDD FDD AIR     INTERFACE”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,655; -   13) Ser. No. 09/839,458, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled “WIRELESS     ACCESS SYSTEM USING MULTIPLE MODULATION FORMATS IN TDD FRAMES AND     METHOD OF OPERATION”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,173,916. -   14) Ser. No. 09/839,456, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled “WIRELESS     ACCESS SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHOD USING MULTIPLE MODULATION     FORMATS IN TDD FRAMES ACCORDING TO SUBSCRIBER SERVICE TYPE”, now     U.S. Pat. No. 6,891,810; -   15) Copending Ser. No. 09/838,924, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled     “APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING A PRIORITY CALL IN A FIXED WIRELESS     ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM”; -   16) Ser. No. 09/839,727 filed Apr. 20, 2001 and entitled “APPARATUS     FOR REALLOCATING COMMUNICATION RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH A PRIORITY     CALL IN A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM”, now U.S. Pat.     No. 7,031,738; -   17) Ser. No. 09/839,734, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled “METHOD FOR     ESTABLISHING A PRIORITY CALL IN A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS     COMMUNICATION SYSTEM”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,035,241; -   18) Ser. No. 09/839,513, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled “SYSTEM AND     METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN IMPROVED COMMON CONTROL BUS FOR USE IN     ON-LINE INSERTION OF LINE REPLACEABLE UNITS IN WIRELESS AND WIRELINE     ACCESS SYSTEMS”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,925,516; and -   19) Ser. No. 09/948,059, filed Sep. 5, 2001, entitled “WIRELESS     ACCESS SYSTEM USING SELECTIVELY ADAPTABLE BEAM FORMING IN TDD FRAMES     AND METHOD OF OPERATION”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,931.

The above provisional and non-provisional applications are commonly assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems and more particularly, to a wireless communication system and associated method for routing messages.

BACKGROUND

Advancements in communication technologies have permitted the development, and implementation, of new types of communication systems. Such communication systems are able to permit the communication of increased amounts of data at increased thruput rates relative to conventional communication systems. And, such new communication systems have permitted communication of information at, and between, communication stations positioned at locations from which communications have conventionally been inconvenient or impractical.

Radio communication systems, for instance, are exemplarily of communication systems of which new types, and improvements to existing types, have been made possible as a result of advancements in communication technologies. Similar to other types of communication systems, in a radio communication system, information is communicated between a sending station and a receiving station by way of a communication channel. In a radio communication system, unlike other types of communication systems, a communication channel formed between the sending and the receiving stations and upon which information is communicated by the sending station to the receiving station, is formed of a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Radio links are defined upon the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum allocated to the radio communication system.

Because a radio link is utilized upon which to form communication channels, a fixed, or wireline, connection is not required to be formed between the sending and receiving stations to form a communication channel. Information can be communicated between the sending and receiving stations at, and between, locations at which conventional wireline communications would not be permitted. Additionally, the infrastructure costs associated with the installation of a radio communication system are also generally lower than the corresponding costs which would be required to install a conventional, wireline communication system. And, as the advancements in communication technologies have permitted the bandwidth allocated to a radio communication system to be utilized more efficiently, a radio communication can increasingly be utilized effectuate a communication service which require relatively significant data thruput capability.

A wireless broadband communication system has been proposed, for instance, by which to permit the effectuation of any of various communication services by way of radio links with fixed-site subscriber stations. Radio links are formed with the subscriber stations by fixed-site base stations. The base stations are installed at spaced-apart locations throughout the geographical area which is to be encompassed by the wireless broadband communication system. Several subscriber stations are capable of communicating with a single base station.

Communication of data is effectuated between the subscriber stations and an associated base station by way of radio links upon which communication channels are defined. Because radio links are utilized between the subscriber stations and the base stations, the infrastructure costs associated with the formation of wireline connections between the subscriber stations are obviated. Broadband communications, and communication services which require the communication of broadband data, as well as communication services necessitating smaller data thruput rates are effectuable through use of the wireless broadband communication system.

Advancements in communication technologies have also permitted the development, and introduction, of other types of radio communication systems. Wireless communication systems, sometimes referred to as micro-cellular networks, private networks, and WLANs (wireless local area networks) are exemplary of such systems. Such networks, generally, provide for radio communications with mobile stations positioned within communication range of such networks.

Generally, the communication ranges of the mobile stations operable in such systems is relatively small as relatively low-power signals are originated at the mobile stations and, correspondingly, originated at the network infrastructure of such systems to be terminated at the mobile stations. The network infrastructure of such systems typically include fixed-location transceivers, sometimes referred to as access points. The access points are capable of communicating with a group of mobile stations positioned within a micro-cellular, or other, area defined by the access point. In some of such systems, the access points are coupled to a conventional, local area network, also used to interconnect the processing stations of an office computer system. In other such systems, the access points are connected in other manners.

Installation of a wireless broadband communication system to provide broadband services with a plurality of subscriber stations provides a radio infrastructure throughout a geographical area throughout which wireless broadband communication services are effectuable. If a manner could be provided by which to utilize the communication capabilities of a wireless broadband communication system to provide additional communication services, additional benefits of a wireless broadband communication system would be provided.

It is in light of this background information related to radio communication systems that the significant improvements of the present disclosure have evolved.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure may be found in a wireless communication system that includes a base station and a routing map. The base station is in wireless communication with a plurality of wireless networks. The routing map stores information relating to a location of a mobile station in wireless communication with a first wireless network of the plurality of wireless networks. The base station receives a signal for communication to the mobile station and wirelessly transmits the signal to only the first wireless network, according to information retrieved from the routing map related to the location of the mobile station.

A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and to the scope thereof can be obtained from the accompanying drawings which are briefly summarized below, the following detailed description of the presently-preferred embodiments of the disclosure, and the appended claims.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the disclosure that follows. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure in its broadest form.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates exemplary fixed wireless access network according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a functional block diagram of a fixed wireless access (FWA) communication system in which an embodiment of the present disclosure is operable;

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary subscriber premises in which subscriber integrated access device (IAD) according to the principles of the present disclosure is installed;

FIG. 4 depicts exemplary subscriber integrated access device (IAD) in greater detail according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a representation of a fixed wireless access communication system similar to that shown in FIG. 2 here also illustrating a plurality of cellular coverage areas defined by about a plurality of subscriber stations of the fixed wireless access communication system;

FIG. 6 illustrates another representation of the fixed wireless access communication system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a method flow diagram listing the method of operation of the method of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates exemplary fixed wireless access network 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Fixed wireless network 100 comprises a plurality of transceiver base stations, including exemplary transceiver base station 110, that transmit forward channel (i.e., downstream) broadband signals to a plurality of subscriber premises, including exemplary subscriber premises 121, 122 and 123, and receive reverse channel (i.e., upstream) broadband signals from the plurality of subscriber premises. Subscriber premises 121-123 transmit and receive via fixed, externally-mounted antennas 131-133, respectively. Subscriber premises 121-123 may comprise many different types of residential and commercial buildings, including single family homes, multi-tenant offices, small business enterprises (SBE), medium business enterprises (MBE), and so-called “SOHO” (small office/home office) premises.

The transceiver base stations, including transceiver base station 110, receive the forward channel signals from external network 150 and transmit the reverse channel signals to external network 150. External network 150 may be, for example, the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or one or more data networks, including the Internet or proprietary Internet protocol (IP) wide area networks (WANs) and local area networks (LANs). Exemplary transceiver base station 110 is coupled to RF modem 140, which, among other things, up-converts baseband data traffic received from external network 150 to RF signals transmitted in the forward channel to subscriber premises 121-123. RF modem 140 also down-converts RF signals received in the reverse channel from subscriber premises 121-123 to baseband data traffic that is transmitted to external network 150. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure in which external network 150 is the public switched telephone network (PSTN), RF modem 140 transmits baseband data traffic to, and receives baseband data traffic from, access processor 165, which is disposed in central office facility 160 of the PSTN.

It should be noted that network 100 was chosen as a fixed wireless network only for the purposes of simplicity and clarity in explaining a subscriber integrated access device according to the principles of the present disclosure. The choice of a fixed wireless network should not be construed in any manner that limits the scope of the present disclosure in any way. As will be explained below in greater detail, in alternate embodiments of the present disclosure, a subscriber integrated access device according to the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in other types of broadband access systems. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, such access systems may include wireline systems (i.e, digital subscriber line (DSL), cable modem, fiber optic, and the like) in which a wireline connected to the subscriber integrated access device carries forward and reverse channel signals.

Referring to FIG. 2, a fixed wireless access (FWA) communication system 210 provides for radio communications between fixed-site base stations, of which the base station 212 is exemplary and fixed-site subscriber stations 214 of which the subscriber station 214 is exemplary. A radio link 216 upon which forward link channels 218 and reverse link channels 222 is of a bandwidth permitting broadband communication services to be effectuated with devices located at the subscriber station 214.

In the exemplary implementation, an integrated access device (IAD) 224 forms a transceiver located at the subscriber station and at which forward link signals transmitted upon the forward link channels of the radio link are detectable and which generate reverse link signals for transmission upon the reverse link channels of the radio link. A separate IAD 224 is located at each subscriber station of the communication system.

In the exemplary implementation, each base transceiver station includes a remote modem (modulator-demodulator) capable of communicating with seven separate subscriber stations located within a radial sector. In other implementations, the circuitry of the base transceiver station is configured in other manners.

The base station 212, and the set of remote modems thereof, is coupled to an access process 228 which is operable, amongst other things, to perform control operations to control operation of the communication system. The access process 228 is, in turn, coupled to a communication network 232 such as a public-switched telephonic network or a packet data network. And, a correspondent node 234 is coupled to the communication network. A communication path is formable between the correspondent node and the IAD 224 positioned at the subscriber station by way of the communication network, the access process 228, the base station 212, and the radio link 216. Communication of information by the correspondent node to the integrated access device and from the integrated access device to the correspondent node is effectuable by way of the communication path.

Pursuant to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a WLAN (wireless local area network) transceiver 238 is positioned at the subscriber station 214 at the integrated access device 224 to be connected to the transceiver circuitry of the integrated access device. The WLAN transceiver defines a coverage area 242 defining a cell. A mobile station 244 positioned within the cell 242 is capable of communicating with the transceiver 238. That is to say, the radio link 246 is formable between the transceiver 238 and the mobile station 244 upon which forward and reverse link signals are communicated therebetween. Signals originated at the mobile station are communicated upon reverse link channels of the radio link 246 to the WLAN transceiver 238. And, communication signals to be terminated at the mobile station 244 are communicated upon forward link channels of the radio link 246.

Because of the connection of the WLAN transceiver to the transceiver of the integrated access device 224, signals originated at the mobile station and communicated to the WLAN transceiver can, in turn, be provided to the transceiver of the integrated access device to be communicated upon reverse link channels of the radio link 216 and, thereafter, be communicated to another device, such as the correspondent node 234. Analogously, signals originated at the correspondent node, or elsewhere, can be communicated to the mobile station by way of forward link channels of the radio links 216 and 246 to the mobile station. Thereby communications are effectuable with a mobile station in the fixed wireless access communication system.

In the exemplary implementation, the integrated access device 224 forms a rack-assembly having expansion slots to receive expansion cards thereat. And, the WLAN transceiver is mounted upon, or is otherwise formed at, an expansion card connectable to the expansion slot of the rack-assembly. Thereby the integrated access device together with the WLAN transceiver form an integrated device providing for two-way communication upon the radio link 216 as well as two-way communication upon the radio link 246.

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary subscriber premises 121 in which subscriber integrated access device (IAD) 310 according to the principles of the present disclosure is implemented. Subscriber IAD 310 is connected to one or more communication devices in subscriber premises 121 via network termination (NT) 320 or (optionally) via a wireless local area network (LAN) connection. Subscriber premises 121 may contain one or more processing devices, such as exemplary personal computers 331, 332, 333 and 334, and one or more telephones, including exemplary telephones 341, 342 and 343, that are capable of communicating via the broadband access capability of fixed wireless access network 100.

NT 320 is the external point to which data lines and phone lines within a residence or office are brought in order to be connected to the local telephone service provider. AC/DC converter 390 converts the main AC power in subscriber premises 121 to primary DC power that powers subscriber IAD 310. In order to comply with government regulations for telephone service to one or more telephones in subscriber premises 121, DC battery 361 is charged from the DC output of AC/DC converter 390 in order to provide at least eight hours of backup power in case of a failure of the AC main power in subscriber premises 121. Battery monitor (BM) 362 in subscriber IAD 310 detects main AC power failures and detects low power conditions on DC battery 361 and transmits alarms to fixed wireless access network 100 through subscriber IAD 310.

In an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure, DC battery 361 may be located inside subscriber premises 121 (as shown by dotted lines), rather than mounted on the outside of subscriber premises 121. However, in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, DC battery 361 is externally mounted in order to give maintenance personnel easy access to nearly all components of the subscriber access system (i.e., subscriber IAD 310, DC battery 361 antenna 131) without requiring the homeowner to be present. Although AC/DC converter 390 is disposed in subscriber premises 121, this does not present a problem. Conventional AC/DC converters have very large mean time between failure (MTBF) ratings, so that failures are rare. Furthermore, AC/DC converters are common, inexpensive commercial products that may be purchased and easily installed by the subscriber without the assistance of maintenance personnel. As will be described below in greater detail, since DC battery 361 is often mounted on the outside of subscriber premises 121, DC battery 361 may comprise an internal tamper alarm circuit that transmits an alarm to battery monitor 362 if DC battery 361 is opened or otherwise tampered with by someone other than maintenance personnel.

FIG. 4 depicts exemplary subscriber integrated access device (IAD) 310 in greater detail according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Subscriber IAD 310 is an external unit capable of, for example, radio frequency down-conversion, protocol conversion, voice decompression and control functions. As noted above, the entire subscriber IAD system comprises three major elements:

-   -   1) external antenna 131 allows for multiple antenna options for         increased gain or multiple element antenna subsystems;     -   2) subscriber IAD 310 main assembly contains the integrated         printed circuit board (PCB) motherboard and a mezzanine         interface into which an optional expansion module may be         inserted to provide, for example, two additional voice frequency         (VF) pairs, a T1/E1 module, or a TE/E3 module for use in a SOHO         premises, a small/medium enterprise (SME) premises, or a         multi-tenant unit (MTU) premises; and     -   3) DC battery 361 and AC/DC converter 390, which may be deployed         inside or (preferably) outside subscriber premises 121 to         provide at least eight (8) hours of operation without AC main         power.

Subscriber IAD 310 is connected directly to some subscriber premises equipment (i.e., PC 331-333, telephones 341-343) to provide direct access to voice and broadband data in fixed wireless access network 100 at the NT 320 demarcation point at the customer premise. Both product cost and life-cycle/installation costs are reduced by integrating voice and data interfaces into a single external unit that connects to the standard NT 320 interface at the subscriber premises. Optionally, subscriber IAD 310 may also communicate wirelessly with some subscriber premises equipment, such as PC 334, via a wireless LAN connection. As will be explained below, subscriber IAD 310 may wirelessly transmit data to and receive data from PC 334 via antenna 395. Similarly, PC 334 may wirelessly transmit data to and receive data from subscriber IAD 310 via antenna 392.

In an advantageous embodiment of the present disclosure, subscriber IAD 310 may provide at least four data interface options, including:

-   -   1) separate Cat-5 twisted pairs for 10 Base-T Ethernet;     -   2) one of the VF pairs may be used with, for example, a 1 Mbps         or 10 Mbps Home Phone Network Alliance (HPNA) interface or other         shared voice/data home wiring twisted pair system;     -   3) home power line interface with release of higher bandwidth         implementations (>1 Mbps); and     -   4) wireless LAN connection to subscriber premises equipment.

In an advantageous embodiment, subscriber IAD 310 comprises RF interface (IF) 405, control/networking PAD/voice processing circuitry 410, DC/DC converter 415, battery monitor 362, and mezzanine interface 420. In a fixed wireless embodiment, RF IF 405 provides modulation and demodulation of forward and reverse channel signals between transceiver base station 110 and subscriber IAD 310. DC/DC converter 415 converts the external DC power received from battery 361 to the necessary internal DC power levels used by the components of subscriber IAD 310. Battery monitor 362 monitors the battery power from DC battery 361 and receives alarm signals, if any, from DC battery 361.

If main AC power fails, or if DC battery 361 is tampered with, DC battery 361 transmits alarm signals to battery monitor 362. If the DC power level from DC battery falls too low after an AC power failure, battery monitor 362 detects the low DC power level condition and generates an alarm. The alarms generated by or received by battery monitor 362 are sent to control/networking PAD/voice processing circuitry 410 in order to be transmitted back to the fixed wireless service provider.

In a standard (and low cost) configuration, control/networking PAD/voice processing circuitry 410 comprises, among other things, two voice frequency (VF) pair interface (IF) 412 and data interface (IF) 325. Control/networking PAD/voice processing circuitry 410 performs the overall control functions of subscriber IAD 310 and converts reverse channel voice and data signals received from telephones 341-343 and PC 331-333 to the necessary protocols for transmission to transceiver base station 110 via RF IF 405. Similarly, control/networking PAD/voice processing circuitry 410 converts forward channel signals received from transceiver base station 110 via RF IF 405 to voice and data signals that are used by telephones 341-343 and PC 331-333.

In alternate wireline embodiments of the present disclosure, subscriber IAD 310 may also comprise an expansion slot for one or more wireline interfaces, including for example, cable modem 430. Alternative wireline interfaces may include an optical interface, a DSL router, or the like, in addition to, or in place of, RF IF 405. Cable modem 430 (or an optical interface or a DSL router) provide external interface connection points for a cable modem data line, a fiber optic line, and a DSL line, respectively.

As noted above, in an advantageous embodiment of the present disclosure, mezzanine IF 420 receives expansion module 421 in order to provide additional capabilities to subscriber IAD 310, particularly to meet the needs of small-medium business enterprises and multi-tenant units. For example, expansion module 421 may comprise a voice frequency pair interface, similar to two VF IF 412, providing subscriber IAD 310 with a total capability or four voice lines and one data line (4V/1D).

In a second embodiment, expansion module 421 may comprise a T1/E1 interface. In a third embodiment, expansion module 421 may comprise a T3/E3 interface. In a fourth embodiment, expansion module 421 may comprise a DSL or cable modem interface.

Finally, in a wireless LAN embodiment, expansion module 421 may comprise a wireless transceiver interface that communicates with PC 334 via antenna 395. In the illustrated embodiment, antenna 395 is an integral component of subscriber IAD 310 that is coupled to a connection pin on mezzanine IF 420. In such an embodiment, expansion module 421 comprises conventional RF transceiver circuitry, but does not require its own antenna. However, in an alternate embodiment, antenna 395 may be an integral component of expansion module 421, such that subscriber IAD 310 does not contain a separate antenna for wireless LAN purposes.

FIG. 5 illustrates another view of the communication system 210, here illustrating an implementation in which a plurality of subscriber stations 214 include WLAN transceivers 238 (shown in FIG. 2) connected to corresponding integrated access devices 224 (also shown in FIG. 2). The coverage areas 242 defined by respective ones of the WLAN transceivers are shown in the figure. Adjacent ones of the coverage areas overlap with one another. The remote modems of the base transceivers are again shown in the Figure as is the access process. An arrangement in which the remote modems communicate with subscriber stations positioned within a radio sector is shown in the figure. In other implementations, other arrangements are utilized.

A mobile station initially positioned within, or approximate to, a coverage area 242 defined by a WLAN transceiver positioned at a first subscriber station is permitted movement, such as out of the coverage area defined by the transceiver positioned at a first subscriber station and into the coverage area defined by a WLAN transceiver of another subscriber station. Through operation of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a handover of communications is effectuated from the first WLAN transceiver to another WLAN transceiver, thereby to permit continued communications with the mobile station.

Determination of when to initiate handover of communications is made responsive to measurements of signal characteristics of communication signals communicated between the WLAN transceiver and the mobile station. In one implementation signal characteristics are measured, or otherwise determined, at the mobile station and results of such measures or determinations of are reported back to the WLAN transceiver and appropriate control circuitry. Thereafter, if appropriate, the handover of communications is effectuated.

A routing map 252 is further shown in the figure. The routing map is functionally connected to the access process 228. The routing map includes a listing of the mobile stations, such as the mobile station 246 operable to transceive communication signals pursuant to the WLAN service. Indexed together with the listing of the mobile stations are the locations at which the mobile stations are positioned. When communications are to be effectuated with a particular mobile station, such as communications originated by the correspondent node 234, the routing map is accessed and the communication signals are routed to the mobile stations at the position indicated in the routing map. And, when a handover is effectuated, information routed to a mobile station but not yet delivered is rerouted to the WLAN transceiver to which communications have been handed over.

FIG. 6 again illustrates the communication system 210, here showing a plurality of base stations 212 and subscriber stations 214 associated with various ones of the base stations. Each of the subscriber stations includes a WLAN transceiver (shown in FIG. 2) various of the base transceiver stations are here shown also to be coupled by way of the communication network 232, again either a PSTN, a packet data network, or a combination of such networks. Movement of a mobile station between the coverage areas is defined by different ones of the subscriber stations are shown in the figure. For instance, movement of a mobile station indicated by the arrow 656 represents movement of the mobile station between subscriber stations associated with separate cells of separate base stations. Such movement results in access process routing of subsequent communication signals to a new cell of the fixed wireless access communication system, access process routing to a separate remote mode sector, and remote modem routing to a new subscriber integrated access device. The arrow 658 is representative of movement of a mobile station within a single sector of a single base station. Here, the result is a subscriber integrated access device to a remote modem routing change.

The arrow 662 is representative of movement of a mobile station between adjacent sectors defined by a single base station. Such movement results in access process routing of the communication signal to the new remote modem sector transceiver. And, the arrow 664 is representative of movement of a mobile station between sectors of different cells defined by two different base stations. Such movement results in access process to access process routing resolution, access processing routing to the new cell, access process routing to the new remote modem sector, and remote modem routing to the new subscriber access integrated device. Thereby, handovers of communications are effectuable through any movement of a mobile station between coverage areas defined by WLAN transceivers forming a portion of a fixed wireless access communication system.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method, shown generally at 772 of an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method facilitates radio communications with the mobile station in a fixed wireless access communication system having at least a first base station and at least a first subscriber station capable of communicating with the base station. First, and as indicated by the block 774, a local-network radio transceiver is positioned at the fixed-site subscriber station. Then, and as indicated by the block 776, communication signals are selectably transceived with the mobile station upon a first local radio link between the local-network radio transceiver and a mobile station when the mobile station is positioned within a coverage area defined by the local-network radio transceiver.

Through operation of the method of an embodiment of the present disclosure, WLAN service is provided in a fixed wireless access in a communication system. A mobile station operable in a wireless local area network is thereby able to communicate in the WLAN coverage area encompassing the subscriber station at which the local-network radio transceiver is positioned.

The previous descriptions are of preferred examples for implementing the disclosure, and the scope of the disclosure should not necessarily be limited by this description. The scope of the present invention is defined by the following claims. 

1-24. (canceled)
 25. A wireless communication system, comprising: a base station in wireless communication with a first plurality of wireless networks; and a routing map storing information relating to a location of a mobile station in wireless communication with a first wireless network of the first plurality of wireless networks, wherein the base station: receives a signal for communication to the mobile station, retrieves from the routing map information related to the location of the mobile station, and wirelessly transmits the signal to only the first wireless network according to the information retrieved from the router map, wherein transmission of the signal to the first wireless network causes the first wireless network to wirelessly transmit the signal to the mobile station.
 26. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein the first wireless network is a wireless local area network.
 27. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein: the base station receives a report from the mobile station, the report indicating a location of the mobile station in a coverage area of a second wireless network of the first plurality of wireless networks; and wherein the routing map stores information relating to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the second wireless network.
 28. The wireless communication system of claim 27, wherein, in response to the routing map storing information relating to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the second wireless network, the base station: determines that the signal has not been received by the mobile station; wirelessly transmits the signal from the base station to only the second wireless network.
 29. The wireless communication system of claim 27, wherein the report received from the mobile station is based upon a comparison of a first signal characteristic of first wireless communication signals communicated between the mobile station and the first wireless network and a second signal characteristic of second wireless communication signals communicated between the mobile station and the second wireless network.
 30. The wireless communication system of claim 25, further comprising an access process, wherein the access process: communicates with a plurality of base stations, wherein the base station is a first base station of the plurality of base stations; receives the signal for communication to the mobile station; retrieves from the routing map the information related to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the first wireless network, and wirelessly transmits the signal to only the first base station according to the information retrieved from the router map.
 31. The wireless communication system of claim 30, wherein: the access process receives a report from the mobile station, the report indicating a location of the mobile station in a coverage area of a second wireless network of a second plurality of wireless networks in wireless communication with a second base station of the plurality of base stations; and the routing map stores information relating to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the second wireless network.
 32. The network of claim 31, wherein, in response to the routing map storing information relating to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the second wireless network, the access process: determines that the signal has not been received by the mobile station; and wirelessly transmits the signal from the access process to only the second base station.
 33. A method of communicating with a mobile station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: storing in a routing map information related to a location of the mobile station in a coverage area of a first wireless network of a first plurality of wireless networks; receiving at a base station a signal for communication to the mobile station, wherein the base station is capable of wireless communication with the first plurality of wireless networks; retrieving from the routing map the information related to the location of the mobile station; wirelessly transmitting the signal from the base station to only the first wireless network according to the information retrieved from the router map.
 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first wireless network is a wireless local area network.
 35. The method of claim 33, further comprising: detecting a location of the mobile station in a coverage area of a second wireless network of the first plurality of wireless networks; performing a handover of the mobile station from the first wireless network to the second wireless network; and storing in the routing map information related to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the second wireless network.
 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising: determining that the signal has not been received by the mobile station; wirelessly transmitting the signal from the base station to only the second wireless network.
 37. The method of claim 35, further comprising: measuring a first signal characteristic of first wireless communication signals communicated between the mobile station and the first wireless network; measuring a second signal characteristic of second wireless communication signals communicated between the mobile station and the second wireless network; and comparing the first and second signal characteristics, wherein handover of the mobile station from the first wireless network to the second wireless network is performed according to the comparison of the first and second signal characteristics.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the first and second signal characteristics are measured at the mobile station and transmitted to one of the first and second wireless networks.
 39. The method of claim 33, wherein receiving at a base station a signal for communication to the mobile station further comprises: receiving the signal at an access process, wherein the access process is capable of communication with a plurality of base stations and the base station receiving the signal is a first base station of the plurality of base stations; and transmitting the signal from the access process to only the first base station according to the information retrieved from the routing map.
 40. The method of claim 39, further comprising: detecting a location of the mobile station in a coverage area of a second wireless network, wherein the second wireless network is one of a second plurality of wireless networks capable of wireless communication with a second base station of the plurality of base stations; performing a handover of the mobile station from the first wireless network to the second wireless network; and storing in the routing map information related to the location of the mobile station in the coverage area of the second wireless network.
 41. The method of claim 40, further comprising: determining that the signal has not been received by the mobile station; transmitting the signal from the access process to only the second base station.
 42. The method of claim 40, further comprising: measuring a first signal characteristic of first wireless communication signals communicated between the mobile station and the first subscriber station; and measuring a second signal characteristic of second wireless communication signals communicated between the mobile station and the second subscriber station, wherein handover of the mobile station from the first subscriber station to the second subscriber station is performed according to the first and second signal characteristics.
 43. The method of claim 42, wherein the first and second signal characteristics are measured at the mobile station and transmitted to one of the first and second subscriber stations. 